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10 Steps to Becoming a Better Composer

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  1. Compose.
  2. Compose more.
  3. Compose even more.
  4. Compose even more than that.
  5. Compose when you don’t want to.
  6. Compose when you do.
  7. Compose when you have inspiration.
  8. Compose when you don’t.
  9. Compose everyday.
  10. Keep composing.

Thanks to Brian Clark for his original inspirational post about becoming a better writer. Check it out here.

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About Jon Brantingham

I am a film composer, and lover of music theory. I have spent many years figuring out the tools and techniques that actually work for composers, and now I want to teach them to you.

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    Comments

    1. James Burton

      So if I may ask, do you have any tips or tricks for how you compose? I am a composer myself and I am a freshman in college trying to write more. I am taking music theory, and play the trumpet so I have music for my inspiration. It just gets very difficult on the long pieces as I lose my train of music very quick. Anyway to help with that? Thanks so much for your time.

      Reply

      • Jon Brantingham

        Yes I do. I would recommend listen to my podcast, watch my free course, read the articles on the site, and watch the symposium videos. In particular, the symposiums are me talking off the cuff, and I usually talk a lot about my process and tips and tricks I have.

        My paid courses, Music Composition 101 and Music Composition 201 and very thorough and have many practical tips. 201 in particular is about developing your pieces. We learn the techniques of development by modeling Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 1, Mvt. 1.

        Reply

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